Vaccination of undergrads going at snail’s pace

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The vaccination of undergraduates was taking place at a slow pace, Deputy Director General of Health Services, Dr. Hemantha Herath complained yesterday.

Dr. Herath told The Island that it was similar to what health officials faced when vaccinating those between 20 and 30 years.

“The vaccination of undergraduates is slow. They seem to be trying to choose vaccines. What people must realise is that all WHO approved vaccines work well and that vaccines like Pfizer are not manufactured in adequate numbers,” he said.

The DDGHS said that only around 400,000 people had been vaccinated with Pfizer. The supply was so limited that it was hard to procure US made vaccines, he said.

“It’s hard to even buy these vaccines. Even some western countries are not getting the stocks they ordered some time ago. Therefore, we are using them only for selected groups,” he said.

Dr. Herath hoped that university administration and other officials would educate students about the efficacy of the vaccines and dispel common myths. Inoculating students was vital to recommence the universities, he said.

“Get the vaccines as soon as possible. Otherwise, universities will be hotspots for COVID. Unless everyone is vaccinated, places like university hostels will become breeding grounds for the virus. These are the smartest youth of the country, they must think rationally,” he said.